She does a bear scratch on her back against anything she can find.
She gets in a frenzy, starts moaning and getting excited because it feels so good, I guess.
We took her to the vet and he said there are no fleas.
I don’t know what a hot spot looks like but the base of her tail, where she likes to scratch, looks a little rubbed down but not too bad.
The Vet didn’t know why she was scratching so much. They ran the full gambit.
Originally posted 2009-03-29 18:09:57.
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may be just allergies.
benadryl! does the trick for my dog who is also a itchy nut!
take her back to the vet to find out why she is scratching and not just to check for fleas.
it could be a skin infection, thyroid issues, allergies, etc….a vet will be able to tell you which one is more likely and how best to stop the itch.
do not give your dog any over the counter meds without your vet’s approval.
ETA: if your regular vet had no idea, then i would suggest either a second opinion or go to a derm specialist.
another thought. does she get a reaction from you when she does this? do you either go scratch her back for her, laugh at her or tell her to stop? it is possible this has become a learned behavior to get attention. i know it sounds strange, but it has happened. i’ve seen dogs that scoot their bottoms when they have no reason to, anal glands are empty, etc….but as soon as their owner stopped making a deal out of the dragging it stopped completely.
I would try switching her dog food. A weird allergy can cause all kinds of strange behaviors. My border collie used to chew on her feet because she was allergic to lamb. Other than that it is probably just a behavior thing, and it is funny to her. Try rewarding her for not doing it, which is hard, but works if you are consistent.
I think she is scratching because it feels good. Get a good stiff dog brush and brush her daily especially along her back where she can’t reach…the base of her tail. I have a back scratcher her by my computer…..and use it at least once a day….I have one in the living room, and in the van. I have itchy skin….and I have nothing wrong w/my skin. Don’t you love to have your back scratched??? Try the brushing I think it will give her much relief and pleasure. A hot spot is completely bald….shiny pink skin like a pc of fur the size of a dinner plate has just fallen off. There is a something that would help if you put it at the base of her tale a couple of times…..you can get it at Wal Mart….Pet dept….Sulfodene….just put some on her back and rub it in.
The itching could be food or other allergies. If your vet cannot diagnose the problem, ask for a referral to a Veterinary Dermatologist. The dermatologist can test for various things and can prescribe the best medicine for the dog’s issue.
A ‘hotspot’ is a raw area usually precipitated by licking. The dog will lick an itchy area to stop it from itching, but the drying saliva causes more itching, which causes more licking. A really determined dog can work up a full blown hotspot within a half an hour. The skin gets raw and weepy, then will crust over and start itching again.
Is she a Frenchie?!
It’s probably just skin allergies… give her a Benadryl and see if it helps!
My husband’s 10 year old chihuahua does the same thing. He has no hair and is all scabby on his lower back and butt from constant scratching. My husband says the vet told him years ago that it was just allergies…I guess seasonal because he doesn’t do it for a whopping 2 months out of the year. Lol. But he’ll even rub his butt up againsts people’s legs and feet…enjoyment for when we have company. He gets a cortozone (spelling may be wrong on that) every few months. It doesn’t completely stop the constant scratching, but it cuts it in at least half..enough so the dog keeps his hair. Good luck.